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Bathroom DIY: Tub Versus Shower

Thursday, March 22, 2018

When renovating a home, decisions made at the beginning of the process can truly affect usage for years and decades to come.

Bathroom DIY: Tub Versus Shower

When renovating a home, decisions made at the beginning of the process can truly affect usage for years and decades to come. It is extremely important to focus on the potential needs of a space to create a vision that provides all needed services in the future. This cannot be stressed enough in one room of the household enough: the bathroom. Designing your home’s bathrooms for maximum efficiency and design longevity is paramount to reducing future DIY costs and increasing the resale value on the home. The biggest issue in a bathroom usually comes down to one piece in the home: bathing. Should a room have a shower or a tub? Here are some things to consider when making this decision and moving forward with design!

Usable Space

As the old saying goes, “You can’t fit a camel through the eye of a needle.” The same is true in bathrooms. The usable space in a bathroom often determines what can go in the space. For example, if the existing drain system and shower pipe are set in one corner of the room, does your budget accommodate a new feature like a tub? Will adding a tub cramp the existing vanity and reduce storage space? Will creating a shower create awkward space between the new shower and the vanity? Are you willing to put in new floors to accommodate the transition?

Future Use

Sure, a standalone tub without a fixed shower looks great in magazines, but have you tried to bathe a toddler in one? Although we can’t predict life’s plan for all of us, thinking ahead about possible future uses can save the family not only headache, but additional renovation costs in the future. Keep your guest bathroom as a room with a bathtub in case the family grows or if you are planning to sell the home in the future. Not all renovations should be for design alone.

Quality Vs. Price

When shopping for either a shower or a tub, price point is something to consider when in the design phase. A tile shower may look beautiful in pictures, but is it as affordable as placing a solid slip in tub in the existing area? Shop at your local Barton's Home store to determine what works best in your budget for long term value in the home.

Finishes

Once you have made your decision regarding a tub or a shower, finishes are the next step in the process. These can range in price with your budget and have numerous options available. If there is room in the budget consider upgrades such as tile walls, rainfall shower heads, copper-styled finishes or putting additional funds into updating all fixtures to match throughout the entire bathroom.

About The Author

Lynn Black is a graduate of Christopher Newport University with over a decade of experience in marketing strategies and content writing. She is a military spouse to a member of the United States Coast Guard. Lynn has experience completing DIY projects and will be tackling an upcoming home renovation using Surplus Warehouse products.

Conclusion

Options are endless when in the renovation process, but keep your mind on what will bring the family and value of the home the most benefits. Shop your local Barton's Home store for inspiration and meet with one of our team experts today!